The Universal Credit Conference 2024: Promoting Financial Inclusion for All

The UK Government has announced plans to replace all legacy benefits with one all-encompassing universal credit system by the end of 2024. Local authorities, housing associations and the voluntary sector must form robust partnerships to successfully support universal credit claimants. Through sharing and engaging with best practice across the public sector, practitioners can work to provide support to financially vulnerable households amidst the cost of living crisis.

• In October 2023, there were 6.2 million people on Universal Credit
• There was an average of 53,000 claims and 43,000 starts per week in October 2023
• Universal Credit households with children accounted for half of all households with a payment in August 2023
• The number of people on Universal Credit in the ‘no work requirements’ rose to 2.2 million as of October 2023

(Department for Work and Pensions, November 2023)

Join us at The Universal Credit Conference 2024: Promoting Financial Inclusion for All to hear the latest policies and initiatives from experts across the public sector in universal credit provision and support. You will hear best practice case studies covering a range of key topics, including creating bespoke financial plans, supporting claimants with disabilities and preventing housing instability. You will also have the opportunity to network with colleagues from a range of sectors to share common challenges in working in partnership to drive improvements in universal credit provision.

Why Attend:

✓ Hear high-level keynotes from leading organisations on the latest universal credit guidance and advice
✓ Case studies showcasing best practice in supporting low-income families
✓ A wide range of topics including improving financial advice, navigating the job market, and supporting financially vulnerable young people
✓ Networking opportunities with speakers and senior colleagues
✓ 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota

For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285

• 09.00

  Online Registration

• 09.50

  Chair’s Opening Remarks 

  Prof Sir Richard Blundell, Ricardo Professor of Political Economy, UCL (invited)

• 10.00

  Keynote: Transitioning to Universal Credit: Sharing the Latest Guidance and Updates

  • Outlining recent legislative changes to the universal credit system: supporting vulnerable people to access financial support
  • Highlighting practical measures to fast-track universal credit advance payments and provide emergency support
  • Supporting parents and families with universal credit: overcoming barriers to financial security
  • Updates on the Local Housing Allowance: supporting private renters seeking universal credit

  Senior Representative, Department for Work and Pensions (invited)

• 10.20

  Keynote: Driving Improvements in Delivery of Support: Adopting a Person-Centred Approach and Addressing Customer Concerns

  • Providing support during the cost of living crisis: outlining emergency financial measures available
  • Upskilling staff to provide sensitive and high-quality advice to claimants of universal credit
  • Working with people on low incomes to develop personalised and realistic financial security plans
  • Ensuring vulnerable people can access financial support: key tips and recommendations
  • Implementing lessons learnt from the cost of living crisis to ensure the success of future crisis response strategies

  Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive, Citizens Advice (invited)

• 10.40

  Questions and Answers

• 11:00

  Comfort Break

• 11.20

  Case Study: Creating Bespoke Financial Plans for Claimants of Universal Credit

  • Providing holistic support to residents so they can manage their universal credit claims independently
  • Offering wrap-around financial support to empower people to maximise their income and manage council debts
  • Adopting a person-centred approach to helping residents improve their financial resilience
  • Raising awareness in local communities of support measures available to ensure uptake

  Sean Foulds, Assistant Director Advice & Benefits, Royal Borough of Greenwich (invited)

• 11:40

  Case Study: Improving Management of Universal Credit Claims and Offering Tailored Financial Advice to New Users

  • Supporting new claimants to calculate their entitlements and better understand the benefits system
  • Implementing communication techniques to equip claimants with up-to-date information about universal credit
  • Forming local partnerships to improve service provision for people seeking financial support
  • Providing bespoke financial advice and support to local residents struggling financially
  • Assisting households with financial management prior to crisis: preventing escalation

  Belinda Batt, Welfare Rights Advisor, Croydon Council (invited)

• 12.00

  Case Study: Supporting Claimants of Universal Credit to Navigate the Job Market

  • Implementing proactive data-led employment campaigns to reduce barriers to work in local communities
  • Creating career pathways for people struggling to access employment amidst the cost of living crisis
  • Equipping universal credit claimants seeking employment with practical skills to support their transition into the workplace
  • Partnering with local businesses to identify recruitment needs and match jobseekers with vacancies

  Andrew Brockbank, Haringey Works Employment Support Team Leader, Haringey Council (invited)

• 12:20

  Questions and Answers 

• 12.40

  Lunch Break

• 13:00

  Keynote: Navigating the Cost of Living Crisis: Generating Financial Security for Low-Income Households

  • Insights into the cost of living crisis: current financial trends and challenges
  • Guidance for forming local partnerships to provide additional support streams for people struggling financially
  • Financial inclusion: supporting people from all backgrounds to generate financial stability and access support
  • Signposting mental health resources for low-income individuals to ensure wrap-around care is available

  Tom Rahilly, Assistant Director Communities and Social Policy, Greater London Authority (invited)

• 13.20

  Case Study: Providing Financial Support for Disabled People and Protecting Livelihoods Through Financial Inclusion

  • Supporting disabled claimants to work effectively with medical professionals and complete work capability assessments
  • Partnering with employers to ensure workplaces meet the needs of disabled staff members
  • Providing personalised guidance to support people with disabilities into employment
  • Long-term strategies to improve retention and support career development for disabled employees

  Shani Dhanda, Ambassador and Disability Specialist & Accessibility Consultant, Scope (invited)

• 13:40

  Questions and Answers 

• 14.00

  Breakout Networking: Overcoming Challenges to Provide Effective Support for Low Income Households and Universal Credit Claimants

  This session will provide you with the opportunity to discuss innovative ways to ensure wrap around support for people on universal credit. Share what has worked well in your organisation or local community, as well as the common challenges you face, with peers from across the sector.

• 14:30

  Comfort Break

• 14.50

  Case Study: Best Practice Guidance for Preventing Homelessness and Ensuring Successful Tenancies

  • Adopting a multi-agency approach to prevent a local housing crisis: safely sharing data and managing cases
  • Embedding financial advice services into housing association provision to support tenants in managing rent payments
  • Insights into temporary housing and supported accommodation for low-income families and individuals
  • Rent arrears: guidance for avoiding arrears and navigating financial instability

  Claire Corney, Head of Finance, PHA Homes (invited)

• 15:10

  Case Study: Supporting Young Adults Seeking Universal Credit and Providing Tailored Care

  • Creating efficient support centres with trained staff to deliver person-centred advice to young jobseekers on universal credit
  • Guidance for seeking funding for initiatives to provide bespoke financial support for young people
  • Generating work experience and apprenticeship opportunities to help young people find suitable employment
  • Forming partnerships with local schools and colleges to identify key challenges for people after exiting education

  Hayley Galpin – WORKS Project Manager, Bristol City Council (invited)

• 15:30

  Questions and Answers

• 16.00

  Chair’s Summary & Close

  *programme subject to change without notice

  

Who Should Attend?

This conference is open to professionals in public, private, and third sectors. Attendees who work with people on universal credit or in the universal credit system will be interested in this event.

For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285

Raise your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business

If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact Chris and Ali today at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here and we will contact you.

Benefits of partnering with us include:

• Brand awareness: Be seen by a highly targeted and engaged audience before, during, and after the conference.
• Lead generation: Meet the decision-makers and influencers responsible for making purchasing decisions on cyber security and data protection.
• Thought leadership: Position your organisation and experts as thought leaders and the ‘go to’ experts.
• Networking: Make valuable connections with potential new customers and partners across government and the wider public sector
• Grow your business: Reach decision makers in a single event on just one day and in one location (with no travel/accommodation required), saving you time and money.
• Gain valuable insights: Hear the latest from key stakeholders in government, and across the public and voluntary sectors.

IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.

All packages include:

• Extensive branding – before, during, after the conference
• 15-20 min morning speaking session with Q&A
• Virtual stand to showcase your organisation, products, services, and solutions
• Opportunities to network during the day
• Half to full page ad in the E-Guide
• Banner ad on the virtual events platform
• Announcement post on LinkedIn
• Announcement within delegate communication
• 1-3 delegate places (worth upto £1,947)
• Access to the delegate details after the event
• Ongoing exposure through OnDemand (coming soon)

For more information and discuss your specific objectives, please contact Chris and Ali at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here

Virtual vs F2F

Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:

• Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
• Lower sponsorship package costs
• No travel/accommodation
• Less time out of the office
• No stand materials required (lower costs)
• 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
• Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
• Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
• Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access (coming soon)

To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact Chris and Ali at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here

• Public Sector Rate: £449.00+VAT
• Voluntary Sector Rate: £379.00+VAT
• Private Sector Rate: £649.00+VAT